December U.S. consumer prices are expected to show acceleration, with government shutdown distortions finally clearing away. The inflation reading matters more than you'd think for crypto traders—higher price pressures could keep the Fed cautious on rate cuts, which directly impacts liquidity and market sentiment. After the noise from the previous shutdown subsides, we'll get a clearer picture of underlying demand and supply dynamics. Market participants watching these inflation prints tend to adjust their positioning ahead of any policy signals, making this data release a key catalyst for both traditional and digital asset movements.